Portugal 28-capped international opens up on failed Newcastle United move after £3m midfielder sale
Newcastle United were undergoing a midfield rebuild in 2005 following a poor Premier League campaign
Former Arsenal, Southampton, Fulham and West Ham midfielder Luis Boa Morte has revealed he snubbed the chance to join Newcastle United.
In 2005, the Magpies plotted a midfield rebuild under Graeme Souness. The likes of Scott Parker - a future captain - and Emre Belozoglu joined as the Magpies aimed to kick on from a disastrous 14th-placed finish.
Lee Clark also arrived for his second stint - eight years after controversially joining bitter rivals Sunderland. As for exits, Hugo Viana, Jermaine Jenas and Darren Ambrose left, while James Milner and Nicky Butt were shipped out on loan.
Souness needed radical change to reignite a club that were struggling for consistency in the post-Sir Bobby Robson era. Ultimately, he failed to deliver, with Freddy Shepherd sacking him in February before the Magpies enjoyed a brief resurgence under Glenn Roeder.
But how different could the situation have been if Newcastle signed Boa Morte, the seasoned Portuguese international who, at the time, played for Fulham? Rafa Benitez - then Liverpool manager - was also sniffing around the midfielder following his historic Champions League win in Istanbul.
Speaking to O Jojo, the now 46-year-old opened up about how close he came to switching clubs. As well as Liverpool and Newcastle, French duo Bordeaux and Saint-Etienne also monitored Boa Morte.
“There was the option of Liverpool, but, as I still had a contract and was going to cost around £6milion they preferred Zenden, who at the time was a free player. Newcastle, Bordeaux and Saint-Etienne were also possibilities.”